Total joint replacement: a cost-effective procedure for the 1990s.

Total hip and knee replacement have been shown to be beneficial procedures not only by traditional clinical studies but by modern outcome measures as well. The cost-effectiveness of total joint arthroplasty compares favorably with non-surgical treatments for patients with advanced arthritis of the hip and knee. While cooperation is necessary among all participants in the health care system to provide total joint replacement in a cost-efficient manner, dramatically short lengths of hospitalization and limitation of surgical implant selection are unlikely to provide any real cost savings. Total hip and knee replacement as currently performed will continue to offer cost-effective relief to patients with advanced arthritis of their major weight-bearing joints.